Yes – Bathabile Dlamini Must Pay for her Conduct in the SASSA Crisis

The Constitutional Court has delivered a damning judgment against former Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini who was found to have lied to a court of law.

The Constitutional Court had ordered an investigation to take place on Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s actions. That investigation showed that:  Minister Dlamini appointed individuals to lead parallel work streams of responsibility; that those individuals reported directly to her; and that the reason Minister Dlamini did not disclose this information to the court was that she was afraid that she would be blamed for the social grants crisis.

In its decision, the Constitutional Court endorsed the finding of the investigation and found that Minister Bathabile Dlamini lied in order to protect herself instead of safe guarding the interests of social grant recipients. It found the Ministers’ conduct reckless and grossly negligent. It decried the Ministers’ behavior which it described as being contrary to the values of the Constitution. The Court has also referred the decision of the investigation and its judgment to the National Prosecuting Authority to see if the Minster should not be prosecuted for perjury.

This is an important judgment for holding cabinet members accountable to the law when their actions have negatively affected the enjoyment of rights, and where that official has neglected their responsibility.

R2K therefore calls on President Ramaphosa to fire Minister Bathabile Dlamini from his cabinet!

For more information contact:

Mluleki Marongo, R2K Access to Information Organiser: 078 105 8802